Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not gonna beat around the bush here. This album fucking sucks. It’s terrible. It’s awful. I want to hop in a DeLorean and go 88 miles an hour back to last week and tell myself not to listen to this steaming pile of garbage.
With a few exceptions, most of this record – Jerry Only‘s supposed “debut solo album” – sounds exactly the same as the last “Misfits” record The Devil’s Rain. If you enjoy listening to Jerry recklessly howling over miscellaneous backing tracks that sound like they were pulled from a royalty free hard rock music library, Anti-Hero is the album for you.
The record starts on a low note with “Fear the Walking Dead” and its weird, fucked up sounding synthesizer(?) intro. Then Jerry starts singing, and things take a turn for the worse. A few unremarkable tracks later, we reach “Taboo”. This is a really fun, bouncy punk rock ‘n’ roll song; definitely the best on the album. “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” is a close second with its upbeat, Ramones-ish feel. And then we come crashing back to reality as Anti-Hero closes with its wet fart of a title track. Jerry’s wailing about “millions tortured, raped, and sacrificed” while some shitty little arena rock style guitar riffs that don’t match the tone of the lyrics in the slightest carry on in the background. What the fuck.
There are two things I’ll give Mr. Only major kudos on. 1) He didn’t call this a Misfits album (though I’m fairly confident Danzig gave him an ultimatum when they started doing reunion shows). 2) There’s only 8 tracks on this piece of shit, so while it’s quite the unpleasant experience, your suffering isn’t too prolonged.
And listen folks, I’m not some Jerry Only-hating, Danzig-era Misfits purist or anything like that. In fact, I think American Psycho and Famous Monsters are awesome. But even I have to draw the line somewhere, and Anti-Hero is where I draw that line. Actually I drew the line at Project 1950 and The Devil’s Rain, but I am drawing an even bigger, bolder line this time.
In closing: fuck this album. It’s irredeemably bad (two of the songs are alright though so that’s kinda cool). Don’t listen to it. Don’t buy it, unless it’s as a gag gift or something. Listening to Jerry Only’s Anti-Hero was the wost possible way I could have chosen to spend a Friday night, but I did it for you, the people! And I’m sure you’ll appreciate my sacrifice.
Official Review Score: 1.38 out of Five Crimson Ghosts
Axel
Amen!
Travis
At first I thought someone shit in your Cheerios, but then I realized it was your ears. It does NOT sound like Devil’s Rain at all… Totally different engineering and tone. His bass sounds like it always does I guess?
I agree with your ranking of songs (except Fear the Walking Dead), but the good songs are good and the bad songs are ok. The engineering is my least favorite… But the original Misfits albums had terrible engineering.
But hey you got clicks so good on you I suppose?
You must be a riot at parties.
Rick
Unfortunately, Jerry’s primarily issue is he is held to an unreasonable standard considering that he is a member of the Misfits. His music sounds different than what historic Misfits fans are used to and there’s nothing wrong with that. He is doing his own thing and that’s perfectly fine. Just because it isn’t aligned with what you’re used to listening to doesn’t mean it’s bad.
The issue is clearly with OP. He demonstrates an inability to write an unbiased piece which his article is filled with indecent yet emotionally driven language. Why such rage? It’s like encountering an unhappy dimwit that hates his own life so he feels the need to dump on others because that is his only channel to his own self gratification. And really, that’s a very low level of living.
Bottom line? OP isn’t a logical minded individual and his expressed views should be bypassed on all counts.